Take a little time out and learn a simple pleasure
The Dell is a beautiful, creative and versatile space to host a retreat or event of any kind. Right in the heart of the Cairngorms and on the edge of the Abernethy Forest the Dell is a peaceful place with great access to real wilderness.
Accommodation is versatile, owner Polly can provide creative and nourishing soul-food and our studio space is set within the forest in our Scandinavian Tipi.
We make sure your guests have the environment that allows them to relax and gain the most from the retreat. The kettle is always on, the fire stoked, candles lit and a warm welcome to the Dell.
View Workshops by Season
Summer 2022
Soundscape meditation walk
1 Jun - 31 Aug
Anytime
£25
Music has been our true tonic over the last little while and we have built a stack of our 'Woodland Wireless' playlists on Spotify to form a connection with the woods, even when you're not able to visit.
Soundscape draws from this library, carefully selecting tracks that stir us and resonate with the landscape surrounding us to take us on a meditative musical journey into the deeper, more hidden trails surrounding the Dell.
Each walk takes around an hour and will be punctuated with birdsong interludes and hot cups.
Only requirements are Premium Spotify account, good headphones and some sturdy footwear.
This is available all year round.
Weekly Yoga Classes
1 Jun - 31 Aug
We are really happy to have Katie White here at The Dell as our regular yoga instructor. She truly is a wonderful teacher! Katie is going to be hosting a yoga class in our woodland tipi on Tuesday evenings from 7-8pm (£12 a session). This is a slightly challenging with an emphasis on Ashtanga, creating more energy, vitality and freedom in a progression towards strength and flexibility. Please bring your mats and, if you like, yoga block or you can hire them here at The Dell. We also recommend wearing layers and bringing a blanket. Some Tuesday evenings are not running so it’s best to get in touch with ourselves or head to Katie’s website www.katiewhiteyoga.com to find out more.
Summer Pizza Nights
21 Jul - 18 Aug
5 - 9pm
Come and spend a summer night in and around our tipi, enjoying pizzas and drinks and good tunes with friends. We are hosting these evenings on the following dates:
21st Juy
4th August
11th August
18th August
Booking is essential so please get in touch.
Autumn 2022
Wilderness Fit Retreat
9 - 12 Sep
£650
A unique collaboration bringing together Wilderness Fit movement sessions all using the natural landscape. These sessions hopefully give you a little inspiration in the outdoors that you can bring into your daily life, run by Yaz Basan (Level 3 qualified Personal Trainer). Also included are varying forms of yoga, Kombucha brewing, cycling, cold water swimming and trail running and an optional extra Reiki session. The aim of this weekend is to give other women a boost of energy and have a good time together in the outdoors. There will be plenty of time for relaxation too. All activities are optional and all fitness levels are welcome
Shrinkpot Carving Workshop
17 Sep
10am - 4pm
£110
Come and spend a relaxing time making and creating with the extremely talented Aaron Sterritt, in and around our woodland tipi. Aaron is a local green woodworker and creates stunning contemporary pieces that are inspired by the natural characteristics of the wood in which he works. With him, you will learn a wide range of traditional "Green Woodworking" techniques. Using hand tools and locally sourced hardwood, you will be guided through the process of making your very own Shrinkpot. These wooden pots are the ultimate in pure green woodworking and are an absolute joy to make! You will come away with at least two of these beautifully practical pots, which can have many different uses. This course is for both complete beginners and more experienced woodworkers. All welcome, no previous woodworking experience is needed. Lunch, drinks and cake are also provided by our wonderful chefs here at The Dell. A wonderful way to spend a day in the trees.
Tipi Supper Club
23 - 24 Sep
6.30 - 11pm
£65
They have been in the pipeline for a long time, but we are so thrilled to finally announce our first Tipi Supper Club. And boy it's a good one! We are very excited to be bringing Fig and the Wild, an innovative and fun going catering crew from Liverpool, to share their culinary creativity with us. Your ticket includes a drink and canapes on arrival and a delicious 4 course meal. Not only that, but the wondrous Louis Abbott from Admiral Fallow will be gracing our presence with his harmonious voice through out the evening. An intimate night of delicious food and interludes of beautiful music round the fire, what more could you ask for? How about a night's bed and breakfast here at The Dell? Treat yourself to a proper night out and let us take care of you in the morning:
Double occupancy room - £120 per person (includes the supper club)
Single occupancy room - £180 (includes the supper club)
Tickets are available for both Friday 23rd September and Saturday 24th September so please get in touch to book your space, we would love to see you there!
Big Juicy Creative Swim Retreat
24 - 28 Oct
Join SwimWild on its first ever Big Juicy Creative Swim Retreat, bringing together wild swimming and creative exploration, on this unique 5 day retreat.
It’s being hosted by Swimwild founder, illustrator and author Alice Goodridge and Big Juicy Creative podcast host and journalist Suzy Bashford, who have been finding ‘swimspiration’ together for years.
You definitely don’t have to be an artist, or even consider yourself ‘creative’. You could be. Or you could be someone who wants to awaken their creativity in a playful way, amid stunning surroundings. Perhaps you’re creatively blocked, or have lost touch with your creativity. Whatever situation, cold water is one of the best hacks we’ve found to joyfully ignite your creative spark and have fun with like-minds at the same time. Five days of fun, creativity, wholesome and nutritious food and being surrounded by nature.
Grounding into Winter Ancient Wisdom Retreat
7 - 11 Nov
from £795
Join the wonderful and inspiring Mairead Moodie for 4 days of deep rest, nourishment and preparation for transitioning into Winter. Your days will start by the fire in the Tipi, with a mug of medicinal cacao, followed with some Kundalini inspired movement or yoga practice. After a nourishing long brunch, the afternoon will be yours to do with as you wish. Lazy afternoons by the fires, walks in the forest, loch dips, kitchen or living room ‘workshops’ inspired by the teachings of Ayurveda, warm baths or curling up on your comfy bed with a good book. Dinners will be nice and early to allow for a long, slow evening practice back in the tipi before bed. There will be yoga Nidra, guided meditations, yin practice and sound baths as part of our evening wind down practice. A chance to relax, re-charge and nourish the body, mind and soul.
Relax, Restore and Renew
11 - 14 Nov
From £699
This retreat will enable you to relax, unwind, take a breath outside of your everyday life. Surrounded by the wonderful natural environment we will encourage you to focus on yourself, think about what you really want from your life and gain some fresh focus, a new perspective. Our professional coaches will guide you on a journey of self-discovery and reconnection to self. The course gifts you with tools and techniques to rediscover and experience the very best version of yourself. The retreat includes life coaching workshops, forest walks, meditation and breathwork, yoga and mindfulness practices, exactly what you need to Relax, Restore and Renew.
Winter 2022
Sorry. There are no workshops scheduled at this point in the year.
Spring 2023
Awaken to Spring (Women's Retreat)
27 - 31 Mar
from £1250
Join the wonderful English Yogini Molly Chinner and Scottish artist Ellis O'Connor for a retreat immersion into the budding world of Spring. This is a land that bears many ancient myths and legends of the old ways, and this retreat will offer an opportunity to uncover your own heart connections, ancestral stories and wild Self as a guardian of the land.
This retreat summons a supportive circle of women for a week full of soulful movement, vibrational sound, healing circles, beautiful ceremony, plant medicine and inspiring art to reclaim your wild, creative and authentic Self. This is an opportunity to flow with the energy of budding spring - initiating deep change and attunement to the lost stories rooted within the landscapes all around you, to re-connect with yourself and with a community of other, amazing women. All meals are included in the cost of retreat – you will be well fed!
This is a retreat for women who feel a deep summoning in their bones....
Treat someone to an experience at the Dell
If you have stayed at the Dell or simply like the look of what we do here you can now pass it on by way of a voucher.
Gift Vouchers
Whether it be a romantic break, a weekend yoga retreat, a fire pit session or a bottle of wine on arrival, allow us to look after this for you.
Keep in touch?
We'll let you know when we add new workshops and dates to the calendar.